Chamelaucium plant named ‘FIRST MAYA’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chamelaucium  cultivar named ‘FIRST MAYA’ is disclosed, characterized by medium sized, creamy white colored flowers. The new variety is very early blooming. The new variety is a  Chamelaucium , normally producing cut flower stems, or as a garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chamelauciumuncinatum×megalopetalum.

Variety denomination: ‘FIRST MAYA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Chamelaucium cultivar is a product of chance discovery by theinventor, Nitzan Nir, in Kfar Hess, Israel. The new variety was selectedas a naturally occurring whole plant mutation of the varietyChamelaucium uncinatum×megalopetalum ‘Early Maya’, unpatented. ‘FirstMaya’ was selected during October of 2009, at a commercial nursery inKfar Hess, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar has been performed byvegetative cuttings. This was first performed at a commercial nursery inKfar Hess, Israel in December of 2010 and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘FIRST MAYA’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘FIRST MAYA’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘FIRST MAYA’ as a new and distinct Chamelauciumcultivar:

-   -   1. Very early blooming season beginning in September in the        Northern Hemisphere.    -   2. Creamy white flower.    -   3. Medium flower size.    -   4. Pink flower bud.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘FIRST MAYA’ are similar to plants of theparent, Chamelaucium uncinatum×megalopetalum ‘Early Maya’ in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar‘FIRST MAYA’ produce larger flowers one month earlier than the parent.Additionally, flower buds of ‘FIRST MAYA’ are darker than flower buds of‘Early Maya’.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘FIRST MAYA’ are comparable to the varietyChamelaucium hybrid ‘Blondie’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,966. The twoChamelaucium varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however, the new variety ‘FIRST MAYA’ begins floweringearlier than ‘Blondie’. Flower buds of ‘FIRST MAYA’ are Red 50 Acompared to bud color of Red-Purple 60A of ‘Blondie’. Additionally,‘FIRST MAYA’ petals are slightly brighter white, and not occasionallyblushed with pink, as characteristic of ‘Blondie’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘FIRST MAYA’ can also be compared to thecommercial variety Chamelaucium uncinatum ‘Guy’, unpatented. Thesevarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however‘FIRST MAYA’ flowers earlier than ‘Guy’. Additionally, petals of thevariety ‘Guy’ can change from white to pink, whereas petals of ‘FIRSTMAYA’ are consistently white. Flower buds of ‘Guy’ are lighter red thanflower buds of ‘FIRST MAYA’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a closeup of typical flowers and foliage of ‘FIRST MAYA’. The age isapproximately 1 year. The photograph was taken using conventionaltechniques and although colors may appear different from actual colorsdue to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventionalphotographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘FIRST MAYA’ plants grown outdoors in KfarHess, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 15° C. to 35° C.during the day and from −2° C. to 35° C. during the night. General lightconditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Chamelaucium uncinatum×megalopetalum    ‘FIRST MAYA’.-   Age of plant described: At least 2 months old from a rooted cutting.-   Typical flowering stems harvested per plant: 100 to 120 during the    course of the season.-   Vase life of flowers: Two weeks.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to produce a rooted plantlet: 30 to 60 days at approximately    24° C.-   Root description: Fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright plant produces multiple stems from a pinch, or    after harvesting stems.-   Height: 150 cm.-   Plant spread: 50 cm.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Moderate branching occurs after pinching.-   Length of primary lateral branches: 60 cm on average.-   Diameter of lateral branches: 0.3 cm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: 100 to 120. These are the    harvested flowering stems.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Form.—Round.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 152B over Grey-Grown 199A.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Strength.—Stems brittle.-   Internode length: Range from 0.5 to 6 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 10 leaves, in the 10-15 cm section            from the top of the branch.        -   Average length.—0.8 cm.        -   Average width.—0.1 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Needle.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Glabrous all surfaces.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Aspect.—Straight, occurring at approximately a 15 to 30            degree angle.        -   Color.—Young foliage: RHS Yellow-Green 146C. Mature foliage:            RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Venation: Indistinguishable from            foliage.        -   Petiole.—Not present.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Plants planted during April through    October begin flowering September through January, without a    juvenility period in Kfar Hess, Israel. Plants flower continuously    under short day conditions.-   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: Approximately 60 days.-   Inflorescence type: Terminal Panicle.-   Individual flower type: Single, rotate 5 petaled with a cone shaped    hypanthium. Flowers outwardly facing.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning.-   Lastingness: Up to 14 days in a vase. Approximately 45 to 60 days on    the plant.-   Typical flowering stem length: Approximately 60 cm.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Spherical.        -   Length.—0.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Red 50A.-   Inflorescence size:    -   -   Diameter.—Average 12 cm.        -   Length.—Average 22 cm.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—Average 1.2 cm.        -   Length.—Average 1.3 cm.-   Corolla:    -   -   Petals.—Arrangement: Rotate, not overlapping. Length:            Average 0.7 cm. Diameter: Average 0.7 cm. Quantity: 5.            Texture: Smooth. Apex: Obtuse rounded. Base: Fused into a            hypanthium.        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS White 155B.            Lower surface: Near RHS White 155B. Fully opened: Upper            surface: Near RHS White 155B. Lower surface: Near RHS White            155B. Aging: Upper surface: Near RHS White 155C. Lower            surface: Near RHS White 155C.-   Hypanthium:    -   -   Diameter.—Average 0.7 cm.        -   Length.—Average 0.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Obconical.        -   Color.—When opening: Inner surface: Near RHS Green-White            155D, blotched Red 53B. Outer surface: Near RHS White 155B.            Fully opened: Inner surface: Near RHS Green-White 155D,            blotched Red 53B. Outer surface: Near RHS White 155B. Aging:            Inner surface: Near RHS Green-White 155D, blotched Red 53B.            Outer surface: Near RHS White 155B.-   Calyx/sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—Fused into a single, conical structure.        -   Length.—0.4 cm.        -   Width.—0.7 cm.        -   Margin.—Entire, incised approximately 2 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A, apex White 155A.-   Peduncle: Peduncle consists of the plant stem.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—0.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.-   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—10.        -   Filament length.—1 mm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS White 155C.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Oval.        -   Length.—0.25-0.5 mm.        -   Width.—0.2 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange 163A.-   Pollen: Not observed to date.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—0.5 cm.        -   Length.—0.8 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS White 155A.        -   Style color.—Near RHS White 155A.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Color: Near RHS Greyed-White 156A.            Texture: Glabrous.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Single flower produces one fruit. Fruits are not    fertile. Fruit type is a nut, colored near Grey-Brown N199A, seed is    unwinged colored approximately 1.5 mm, brown in color, too minute to    accurately measure color with RHS chart.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    the normal diseases and pests of Chamelaucium have been observed to    date.-   Temperature tolerance: From −2° C. to 35° C.-   Drought tolerance: Very good tolerance for drought.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chamelaucium plantnamed ‘FIRST MAYA’ as herein illustrated and described.